Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans

Abstract

This chapter begins with a recounting of Hurricane Katrina and City of New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2005. It examines why so many residents were forced to relocate to other communities such as Houston and Atlanta and the impact of this relocation on the migrants themselves, the City of New Orleans, and the communities that hosted them. An estimated 1.5 million people living along the Gulf Coast were displaced as a result of the hurricane. Many of the former residents of New Orleans experienced mental and behavioral health problems and social isolation due to separation from family and friends. Host cities such as Houston experienced a severe strain on resources as they were challenged with finding adequate housing, services, and schooling for the new residents. This resulted in tension between established residents and new arrivals. Katrina also provides an illustration of how the inequities associated with race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and place of residence impacted the decision to move and the decision to return.